Meanwhile, Vietnam’s export to China stood at nearly $11.1 billion in the period, or more than 10 per cent of total export turnover. Only two types of commodities exceeded $1 billion: computers and electronic components, at $1.5 billion, and crude oil, at $1.05 billion.

Vietnam’s trade deficit with China in the first nine months was therefore around $20.17 billion. Based on this, the deficit is estimated to be $27 billion for the year as a whole, up $3.3 billion compared with 2013 and a new record.